§ 290.2 Definitions.

(a) The phrase

advanced manufacturing technology

refers to new technologies which have recently been developed, or are currently under development, for use in product or part design, fabrication, assembly, quality control, or improving production efficiency.

(b) The term

Center

or

Regional Center

means a NIST-established Regional Center for the Transfer of Manufacturing Technology described under these procedures.

(c) The term

operating award

means a cooperative agreement which provides funding and technical assistance to a Center for purposes set forth in § 290.3 of these procedures.

(d) The term

Director

means the Director of the National Institute of Standards and Technology.

(e) The term

NIST

means the National Institute of Standards and Technology, U.S. Department of Commerce.

(f) The term

Program

or

Centers Program

means the NIST program for establishment of, support for, and cooperative interaction with Regional Centers for the Transfer of Manufacturing Technology.

(g) The term

qualified proposal

means a proposal submitted by a nonprofit organization which meets the basic requirements set forth in § 290.5 of these procedures.

(h) The term

Secretary

means the Secretary of Commerce.

(i) The term

target firm

means those firms best able to absorb advanced manufacturing technologies and techniques, especially those developed at NIST, and which are already well prepared in an operational, management and financial sensse to improve the levels of technology they employ.